Market News

Midday cash livestock markets

A few scattered bids on the cattle are being reported from 136.00 to 138.00 live in the South, and 210.00 dressed in Nebraska. For the most part much of the trade area is quiet, but packer inquiry is expected to improve over the next several hours. Asking prices are around 142.00 in the South, and 215.00 plus in the North.

Boxed beef cutout values are weak to lower with the choice down .53 at 122.50, and select is .03 lower at 218.45.

Feeder cattle receipts at Missouri auctions this past week totaled 32,852 head. Compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers sold mostly 5.00 to 10.00 lower. The feeder supply was moderate and made up of mostly five to seven weight feeders. Many reporters noted the supplies at local auctions would have been larger this week if not for the strong winter storms that swept across the plains. Feeder steers medium and large 1 weighing 672 pounds averaged 167.26 per hundredweight. 675 pound heifers traded at 147.97.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Mitchell, South Dakota Livestock Auction totaled 3210 head on Thursday. Compared to last week feeder steers trended steady to 4.00 higher. Feeder heifers were 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Demand was good on an active market. The best demand was seen in long strings of long bodied cattle in lighter flesh. Feeder steers medium and large 1 averaging 712 pounds brought 165.77 per hundredweight. 778 pound heifers traded at 145.10.

TS Whites Diamond, Missouri monthly sheep and goat sale was held on Thursday with receipts of 1245 head. The supply and demand was good. Sheep markets were steady to higher than last month while goat markets fell slightly lower. Feeder lambs, medium and large good 2-3 weighing 48 pounds brought 230.00 to 250.00 per hundredweight. Wooled good and choice slaughter lambs 2-3 weighing 45 to 85 pounds brought 205 to 255.00. Selection 1 feeder kids weighing 25-35 pounds brought 270.00 to 280.00 per hundredweight.

Rock Valley, Iowa hay auction on Thursday had hay sales steady to weak compared to Monday’s sale on a much lighter volume. Good large squares and rounds of alfalfa brought 110.00 to 140 .00 a ton, FOB Rock Valley. Small squares, one load at 150.00.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade, the West and East are not reported due to confidentiality. Nationally the direct hog trade is .85 lower with a weighted average on a carcass basis at 60.26. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is steady from 50.00 to 57.00. Midwest hogs are lightly tested on Friday, steady to 1.00 higher from 39.00 to 42.00.

The pork carcass cutout value FOB plant is down .34 at 76.86.

Earlier ideas of a Saturday kill close to 195,000 head now look too ambitious. Saturday’s kill may not surpass 200,000 head, pushing more unsold hogs into next week.